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As I write my 2nd writing project, a fictional story with Sadako Sasaki and all children affected by war in mind, I reflect on how precious life is and the innocence of every child. I think of my two-year-old niece Elyse and four-month-old niece Sophie. I can’t help but feel sad inside.

On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima city when Sadako Sasaki was only two years old. She was blown out of the window of her home, and her mother found her lying on the ground. Her mother helped her and her four-year-old brother flee to a nearby river to escape the fire, where they huddled together as the “black rain” poured on them, the residual radioactive material that was propelled into the upper atmosphere following the nuclear blast and fell out of the sky with rain water after the shockwave. When Sadako was twelve years old, she was diagnosed with leukemia as a result of the bomb’s radiation. With determination to live, she folded paper cranes, but sadly the disease took her away.

I dedicate the song below called “Tracking Aeroplanes” by The Echelon Effect to all the children suffering or taken away to soon by war. The music expresses the deep feelings that I have inside. I feel so fortunate to be able to live this long, and to be able to play a small role in making this world better for the little ones.

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I just finished reading Nicholas Sparks’ novel “The Best of Me.” Like “The Notebook,” the last several chapters were my favorite part. This story was interesting in that a romance between Dawson and Amanda was rekindled 25 years later from the time they first fell in love as teens. Dawson remained single, whereas, Amanda was married with three children. There were some very sad moments, but in the end, some good came out of tragedy.

JON RIKI KARAMATSU · In my work as a lawyer, consultant, and entrepreneur, I enjoy building and expanding companies. In my past, I served eight years as a Hawaii State Representative; owned an Internet retail business for ten years; served four and a half years as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney and Legislative Liaison for the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, City and County of Honolulu; and produced campaign, cultural, and music events since 2002. As a lawyer, I advocate for entities that need new or amended rules, regulations, and/or statutes by drafting legislation, resolutions, and/or proposals, followed by written and oral testimonies before government bodies. I also assist companies with government incentives, special revenue bonds, government applications, government permits, public and private grants, proactive legal defense strategies, product and services development, marketing, public affairs, and media affairs. Further, I review, draft, and negotiate business agreements and documents. Every so often, I help clients in settling disputes through negotiation, mediation, and/or arbitration. Further, I'm a partner in a start-up aviation fixed-base operator company in Hawaii, which we plan to break ground in 2019. I enjoy creative writing as well, completing a paranormal, romance, historical, and suspense novel based in Hawaii during the 2000s that has been copyrighted and is being shopped around for representation. I'm currently writing my second novel, a historical, romance, and suspense story based in Iraq during the U.S. occupation and war.